Besides Rhule what are your concerns for the season?

[poundaway]

There are so many beyond just health history of CMC, Horn and Baker.

McAdoo has never had a strong run game.   Our line is better at run blocking, Rhule wants a strong run game, Baker has had his best years on a team with one of the best running games in football. 

Can Macadoo scheme a good run game?  He never has before.

On D, I don't think we've replaced Reddick adequately.  There's hope there for some combination of players to step up, but its just hope.

Edited August 22, 2022 by poundaway

[saX man]

Offensive splash plays. We need them, and I don’t think we have the guys that can bring them. Shi is our closest thing to a burner. 

If we need to move the ball quickly, I wonder how at-will we can do it. McAdoo also concerns me from a playcalling standpoint. Playbook will be dope, but we’ve never had an OC with a good feel and cadence to calling plays in line with a game’s flow. Henning, Davidson, Shula, all meh. Chud was close…maybe McA prove me wrong.

[rayzor]

OL shuffling leads to lack of ability to gel (largely rhule dabbling)

OL depth

RB room (CMC staying healthy and i'm not convinced the guys behind him can do all that well)

TEs

DL (esp. DT)

LBs

game management

[CRA]

In no particular order

I think the OL has improved talent but I think the OL might still struggle.  Young players, new players, lack of chemistry and work together, working with new QB, new playbook.  Mix all that in a bowl and I doubt we see great OL play early on. 

Run defense (DL).  

Pass Rush.  I think our ability to generate pressure without blitzing could be an issue. 

Until he shows up and proves he belongs after the league did away with him for the most part, I think Ben McAdoo has a lot to prove.  His decision making in all areas looked bad when he wasn't under Tom Coughlin's thumb.  And while not a green newb, McAdoo much like Joe Brady doesn't fit what Matt Rhule claims to want to be about.  Matt Rhule seems to want Mike Shula if you listen to his talk. 

[onmyown]

1. The oline has zero depth and may not be as good as on paper, the Panthers LOVE that story. I don’t believe they’ll be average or better than average, but close, barring an iniury.

2. The Dline looks really bad…not sure what the plan is here or if building up the secondary was the scheme all along but expecting everyone to be covered for 4-5 seconds is unreasonable. Plus poor run defense. This will absolutely be a disaster.

3. Probably the worst aspect of it all and that is wasted draft picks. Our drafts lately have been really, really bad. Outside of Chinn, someone, anyone, needs to separate themselves. This really set us back if everyone continues to get injured or looks like garbage, including players we traded picks for.

4. Obligatory QB position, I believe Baker will be slightly better than Darnold but not good enough. In a QB needy NFL I refuse to believe a Baylor college coach knows better than all the other teams who needed a QB did not have any interest.

[jayboogieman]

To sum this thread up,

[Panthers Rhule]

1 hour ago, poundaway said:

McAdoo has never had a strong run game.   Our line is better at run blocking, Rhule wants a strong run game, Baker has had his best years on a team with one of the best running games in football. 

Can Macadoo scheme a good run game?  He never has before.

 

This is a good point and I don't know the answer to that. However, has he ever had a decent RB? I honestly can't think of any decent RB on those Giants' teams. CMC is a great RB and behind him doesn't look too bad either. Could that make the difference? We also don't know what he was asked to do in NY. Just because someone hasn't done something doesn't mean they can't. I certainly hope he can. 

[poundaway]

Just now, Panthers Rhule said:

This is a good point and I don't know the answer to that. However, has he ever had a decent RB? I honestly can't think of any decent RB on those Giants' teams. CMC is a great RB and behind him doesn't look too bad either. Could that make the difference? We also don't know what he was asked to do in NY. Just because someone hasn't done something doesn't mean they can't. I certainly hope he can. 

He has never had a good running back, and he didn't need to run that much anyway because the passing attack was so effective.

In any event, someone is going to be out of their comfort zone, whether its Rhule, McAdoo, the OL or Baker.

[Panthers Rhule]

7 minutes ago, poundaway said:

He has never had a good running back, and he didn't need to run that much anyway because the passing attack was so effective.

In any event, someone is going to be out of their comfort zone, whether its Rhule, McAdoo, the OL or Baker.

Maybe but I think people misunderstood the run the ball comments. If I remember well, the context is that we must be able to run the ball and especially in the 4th qtr. He never said he wanted to be a running team I don't think. Correct me if I'm wrong.

If this is the case then he's correct. When you take a decent lead into the 4th and are able to move the chains by running the football you win because you take away the other teams chances of scoring enough to beat you. Moving the chains and eating clock in the 4th with the lead seals the deal and I believe that was what he was speaking about. 

A lot of successful passing teams do it using play action and play action only works if the other team believes you might actually run the ball. Last season, we were not doing that and that's when Rhule made those comments. 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Panthers Rhule

[poundaway]

3 minutes ago, Panthers Rhule said:

Maybe but I think people misunderstood the run the ball comments. If I remember well, the context is that we must be able to run the ball and especially in the 4th qtr. He never said he wanted to be a running team I don't think. Correct me if I'm wrong.

If this is the case then he's correct. When you take a decent lead into the 4th and are able to move the chains by running the football you win because you take away the other teams chances of scoring enough to beat you. Moving the chains and eating clock in the 4th with the lead seals the deal and I believe that was what he was speaking about. 

A lot of successful passing teams do it using play action and play action only works if the other team believes you might actually run the ball. Last season, we were not doing that and that's when Rhule made those comments. 

I think its more than 4th qtr.

He was saying we need to run the ball more going into the Giants game, who had one of the worst pass D's in the league.

Personally, with Baker, Moore, CMC, Higgins,  and Robbie, I'd like to see us pass it more.    I think Rhule is wrong on this one.  We have 2 of the best run D's in the league in our division. 

I really hope McAdoo calls the final shots here.

https://www.wbtv.com/2021/10/18/coach-matt-rhule-wants-carolina-panthers-run-ball-more/

https://news.yahoo.com/panthers-winning-formula-run-ball-214709095.html
https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/10/panthers-hc-matt-rhule-run-2022/

[CRA]

27 minutes ago, Panthers Rhule said:

Maybe but I think people misunderstood the run the ball comments. If I remember well, the context is that we must be able to run the ball and especially in the 4th qtr. He never said he wanted to be a running team I don't think. Correct me if I'm wrong.

If this is the case then he's correct. When you take a decent lead into the 4th and are able to move the chains by running the football you win because you take away the other teams chances of scoring enough to beat you. Moving the chains and eating clock in the 4th with the lead seals the deal and I believe that was what he was speaking about. 

A lot of successful passing teams do it using play action and play action only works if the other team believes you might actually run the ball. Last season, we were not doing that and that's when Rhule made those comments. 

Some of it was probably just the reality that the ball in Sam's hands was making it hard to win games at a certain point.    The Vikings game I think is where he finally conceded a normal offensive gameplan wouldn't work with Sam Darnold. 

Think the first play of the game was Sam throwing an INT.  A complete pointless Sam INT.   Probably the worst INT on the season. Sam went 17/41.   We somehow managed to get back into that one.  Rhule went on a big rant about running the ball post game there.    

But at that point it was over.  We didn't have a strong enough run game to deal w/ the fact Sam Darnold was the QB.  And everyone knew that we didn't want the ball in Sam's hands. 

[pantherj]

1.) Baker throwing too many picks.

2.) The o-line not pass blocking well.

3.) Injury to CMC.

4.) Injury to Baker due to worry number 2.

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

Health.... (Several key guys)

If YGM developes as a pass rusher. (3rd year)

 

O-Line continuity.

 

(I don't think LB or DT depth is the issue some do) 

 

In my opinion if the cards I listed all fall into place we will be a playoff team.

 

[coffee]

No receding O-line

No CMC injury

 

If we can get those two wishes, we'll have much better QB play (even if Darnold comes in some) and a much more bearable season than last year.